Bets not spared from long lines

CEBU, Philippines - Like any ordinary voter, Cebu City candidates also endured the long line and waited for their turn to vote.

However, Cebu City North District congressional bet Annabelle Rama was criticized for  allegedly not falling in line and just inserted herself ahead of other voters who were lining up.

Some of the voters complained as they were already in the polling place before 7 a.m. hoping to be able to vote ahead.

Both reelectionist Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Rep. Tomas Osmeña voted early in the same polling place but different precincts.

Rama arrived at Guadalupe Elementary School with his former wife, Araceli Francisco, and their second son, Mikel, at 7:30 a.m.

After two hours of waiting in line, they were able to vote at precinct number 1370 A under cluster precinct number 368.

At around 8:03 a.m., Osmena, who is running against Rama, arrived in the area heading directly to his assigned voting precinct located in the interior part of the campus.

Rama’s precinct was right near the school entrance.

Osmeña was with his wife, reelectionist Councilor Margot, his sister, Minnie, and son, Miguel.

Miguel took the regular voters’ queuing while the three others took the senior citizen priority lane.

The older Osmenas voted after over an hour while the congressman’s son had to wait longer.

The four of them were assigned inside precinct number 1396 A, cluster precinct number 381.

In an interview, Osmeña told reporters the electoral system has improved a lot.

“It is better now (compared with 2010 elections). It’s a little bit easier now. We had longer lines before,” the congressman eyeing a city hall comeback said.

He added that he liked the electoral process in the United States where a candidate goes through several stages of being selected before the actual elections.

This way, vote buying could be minimized, he continued.

“In the US, they have so many elections because they have primary selections before the actual elections. So imagine if there’s vote buying. It would cost them so much money,” Osmeña said.

But he clarified that Cebu City’s situation on vote buying is better compared to the provinces.

Rama, for his part, said that Comelec must look into their current system where voters wait in long, winding lines for hours under the heat of the sun before they can exercise their right to suffrage.

He added that the current ratio of one PCOS machine with the number of ballots to process makes the process more time consuming.

“Imagine, 1,000 (ballots per machine)? It used to be 200. Comelec should see that it will take a lot of time and they have to solve this for the next elections,” he said.

Comelec Cebu City South District Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde said Rama was right in his observation.

“Yes, I agree. Because this is also our recommendation but we do not have enough machines. There are 80,000 only PCOS machines around the country,” Gujilde told reporters.

Comelec Central Office assigned 592 PCOS machines to Cebu City and around 50 encountered problems on the day of voting.

Former Cebu City North District congressman Raul del Mar, who is hoping to replace his daughter, incumbent Rep. Cutie del Mar, also did not use his influence when he went to Lahug’s Clustered Precinct 156-A to cast his vote.

First District congressman and Talisay City mayoral candidate Eduardo Gullas yesterday cast his vote in Barangay Tanke.

Accompanied by his wife, Norma, he arrived in Tanke Elementary School at about 11 a.m.

After voting, they proceed to Barangay Maghaway where Norma is registered.

His grandson, Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr., who is running for congressman of the first district, and re-electionist Councilor Eduardo “Digul” Gullas III, are registered in Barangay Dumlog.

In Mandaue City,  Mayor Jonas Cortes hopes he will be able to serve his third term and he considers his horse his lucky charm.

Cortes first went to visit his parents’ grave in the Mandaue Public Cemetery, heard mass and cast his vote at 9 a.m. at precinct 02-63B in Cabancalan Elementary School.

Cortes said that every campaign period, his pet horse, Ela, gives birth to his ponies.  In  2007, “Lord” was born and he won.

In 2010, Ela gave birth to “Spirit” and he again won.

This year, Ela gave birth to” Sunday” and he hopes this is another sign that he will win for the third time.

Former City Councilor Victor Biano, who is running against Cortes, voted at around 7:20 a.m. at precinct 0121-A cluster precinct 27 in Banilad Elementary School .

Sixth district Rep. Luis”Gabriel “Quisumbing who is seeking reelection arrived in Bakilid Elementary School at 7:30 a.m. He was with his parents and sister.

 Former sixth district congresswoman Nerissa Soon-Ruiz voted at around 3 p.m. in Mandaue City Central School.

In Lapu-lapu City, LP mayoral candidate Ephraim Pelaez voted at around 1:30 p.m. om Punta Engano Elementary School while Mayor Paz Radaza and her daughter, Eileen, who is running for congress voted at 2:30 p.m.  in Mactan Elementary School while LP congressional bet Angel Rodriguez arrived at around 2 p.m. in Punta Engaño Elementary School.

Cebu acting governor Agnes Magpale and Ramon “Buboy” Durano IV who are running against each other for the gubernatorial seat voted in Danao City Central School.

Magpale, who arrived at around 8:30 a.m., did not have to go through the long line as she is a senior citizen although she was having a hard time locating her precinct.

Durano voted at around 11 a.m. and was assisted by his wife, Lenny, inside the polling place.

Durano, who suffered heat stroke during the campaign period dictated to his wife his chosen candidates as he cannot write on his own due to his physical condition.

“I am okay although I am limping because I suffered a heat stroke and arthritis,” Durano said.

Former Tourism secretary, Ace Durano, fifth district Rep. Red Durano and Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano arrived together with some family members and voted in Guinsay Elementary School.

Commission on Elections (Comelec)-7 Regional Director Temie Lambino announced that Central Visayas remained peaceful as of 5:45 p.m. yesterday.  (FREEMAN)